Missing your cruise ship can be a traveller’s worst nightmare, but one Royal Caribbean guest turned his misfortune into a photo opportunity after being left behind by Odyssey of the Seas in Cartagena, Spain, on 7th May 2025.
Instead of panicking or pleading for the ship to return, the man calmly pulled out a selfie stick and took a photo of himself standing on the pier as the massive ship sailed away.
The unusual reaction was captured by other passengers onboard the ship, who posted the incident on social media.
“Pier runners missing the Odyssey departure in Cartagena just yet. (40 mins past all aboard time). But….let’s first take a selfie,” one passenger shared.
According to the passengers, the ship’s captain, Marek, later announced that four guests – identified as “Ricardo and his 3 guests” – were left behind because they failed to return on time.
The ship had a strict all-aboard time of 4:30 pm, and by 5 pm, Odyssey of the Seas had departed without them.
What Happens Next for the Left-Behind Guests?
The four stranded guests will now need to arrange their own transport to catch up with Odyssey of the Seas at one of the final two ports of call on the 14-night itinerary: Barcelona, Spain, and La Spezia, Italy.
If they cannot rejoin the cruise, they will have to make their own way home.
Royal Caribbean, like most cruise lines, does not wait for guests who do not return on time, except in the case of guests on cruise line-organized excursions that are delayed.
Several others on social media were impressed by the man’s calm reaction, compared to the typical viral videos of those who miss their ship who are often emotional.
“May as well see the funny side and take a selfie of the ship disappearing,” one commenter joked.
“No need to freak out, that won’t change the situation. It is what it is. Take a pic of yourself and laugh at yourself later with a reminder to never do it again,” another agreed.
While it may seem harsh, cruise lines maintain strict departure schedules for several reasons:
- Fairness to On-Time Guests: Thousands of passengers who returned on time should not be delayed.
- Port Fees: Extending the port time can result in additional fees for the cruise line.
- Safety and Navigation: Ships must adhere to a strict schedule, including timed arrivals at other ports.
Cruise guests are always reminded of the ship’s all-aboard time multiple times before they go ashore, and it is each passenger’s responsibility to return on time.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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